10 years after July 15 coup attempt: A lesson in vigilance, unity and democratic resilience

The Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Kuwait, Tuba Nur Sönmez

On 15 July 2016, members of the FETO within the armed forces attempted to overthrow the constitutional order through violence. An assassination attempt was launched against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Turkish Grand National Assembly, the very symbol of the nation’s democratic will was bombed. Public institutions were attacked. Innocent civilians were fired upon. The putschists basically sought to impose the will of a clandestine organization upon a democratic nation. What they failed to anticipate was the determination of the Turkish people.

In the face of this assault, millions of citizens from every segment of society went to streets and opposed putschists. They demonstrated remarkable courage. Regardless of political views or social backgrounds, they united around a common principle: the defense of democracy and the legitimate constitutional order. However, by morning, it was clear that the coup had failed, but at a heavy cost – 253 lives martyred, over 2,200 injured, buildings destroyed. The resilience demonstrated that night transcended the immediate defeat of the coup attempt and our citizens sent a powerful message: “The will is ours, the victory is ours!”. Through defending their will they reaffirmed a fundamental truth: democratic legitimacy derives solely from the will of the people and cannot be replaced through coercion, infiltration, or force.

The July 15 exposed not only a coup plot but the true nature of the FETO. What the Turkish people faced that night was the culmination of a decades-long effort by a clandestine network that had systematically infiltrated state institutions while concealing its real objectives behind the façade of education, charity, dialogue, and civil society activities. Subsequent investigations and court rulings revealed that FETO functioned not as an ordinary religious or educational movement, but as a highly disciplined secret organization with its own chain of command, methods of recruitment, financial structures, and operational objectives. Particularly significant are the testimonies provided by former members who later expressed remorse and cooperated with the judicial authorities.

Many of those prosecuted for their involvement in the organization openly acknowledged during court proceedings that the July 15 coup attempt was planned and executed by FETO. They also revealed that FETO’s members infiltrated state institutions through examination fraud, illegal surveillance, blackmail, intimidation, evidence fabrication, and other unlawful methods. Numerous judicial proceedings have also linked the organization to a broad range of criminal activities extending well beyond the coup attempt itself. What makes FETO particularly dangerous is its ability to conceal its true intentions behind seemingly legitimate structures.

FETO should not be viewed solely as a domestic threat. It is a transnational network whose activities and methods may present serious security risks wherever it operates. For this reason, Türkiye continues to engage closely with other countries and international partners in raising awareness about the nature of FETO. The organization’s operational methods, covert communications, and extensive international are concerning as FETO has cooperation with intelligence structures and external networks whose interests may not align with those of the countries in which the organization operates.

These concerns should not be overlooked by the international community. Moroever, the death of Fetullah Gulen in October 2024 should not be interpreted as the end of the threat posed by FETO. History demonstrates that clandestine organizations built over decades rarely disappear with the death of their founders. Networks, financial resources, institutional structures, and ideological mechanisms often survive long after leadership changes. For this reason, complacency would be a mistake. The lesson of July 15 is therefore not only a lesson for Türkiye. It is a reminder to all nations that organizations operating under the banners of education, charity, dialogue, or civil society should be judged not by their carefully cultivated public image, but by their actual conduct and transparency.

For years, FETÖ masqueraded itself as a movement committed to education, intercultural dialogue, and universal values; however, Turkish authorities and numerous critics argue that this image served to obscure institutional infiltration, opaque financial networks, and other illicit activities. Every year, on July 15, we commemorate Democracy and National Unity Day. It is an occasion to honor our martyrs, pay tribute to our veterans, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to democracy, constitutional order, and national unity.

At its 10th anniversary, the spirit of July 15 remains a source of strength and inspiration. It reminds us that democracy cannot be taken for granted and that the determined will of a nation is stronger than any conspiracy directed against it. As we remember those who sacrificed their lives in defense of our Republic, we do so with profound gratitude and respect. May Allah have mercy on our martyrs, grant good health to our veterans, and preserve the unity, stability, and prosperity of our valiant nation. The will is ours, the victory is ours!